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Communication and Media Studies at University of Massachusetts-Amherst

Amherst, MA · Public · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $36,380/yr (4% vs median)

AI Risk High (55% exposed)

Job Market Large (83,300 openings/yr)

ROI 9.6x earnings multiple (4.2x out-of-state)

Ranked #101 of 613 Communication and Media Studies programs Top 25%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Communication and Media Studies graduates.

	Optimistic No Disruption	Base Case Gradual AI	Pessimistic Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings	$690K	$664K	$584K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	9.9x	9.6x	8.4x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	4.4x	4.2x	3.7x
Probability of Field Employment	46%	40%	29%
DegreeOutlook Score	47	47	40

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$69,428

Out-of-state: $157,172 (4.2x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$94,764

-36% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$20,500

6.8 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$74,087

104% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $36,380 track close to the $35,147 national median for Communication and Media Studies programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.

At 9.6x the cost of in-state tuition, the ten-year earnings outlook represents a strong return. Not exceptional, but meaningfully positive.

AI risk is moderate — 55% task exposure — and the 15% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $20,500 debt-to-$36,380 income ratio translates to about 7 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

Ranked #101 out of 613 programs, University of Massachusetts-Amherst's Communication and Media Studies program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

Earnings growth from $36,380 to $74,087 over five years (104% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About University of Massachusetts-Amherst

With a 58% acceptance rate, University of Massachusetts-Amherst is moderately selective, serving a student body of 23,694 in Amherst, MA.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Massachusetts-Amherst →

Top Career Paths

Public relations managers $138,520/yr

Fundraising managers $123,480/yr

Communications teachers, postsecondary $77,800/yr

View all 10 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Communication and Media Studies at Other Schools

Other Majors at University of Massachusetts-Amherst

Consider the Trade Route?

Trade programs often mean less time in school, lower student debt, and hands-on career paths that tend to be more resilient to AI disruption.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does University of Massachusetts-Amherst's Communication and Media Studies program score?

This program scores 47/100 — on the lower end for Communication and Media Studies. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.

How vulnerable is Communication and Media Studies to AI automation?

AI won't 'replace' Communication and Media Studies careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 55% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.

Why does University of Massachusetts-Amherst rank so high for Communication and Media Studies?

The #101 ranking out of 613 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable relative to income, and the job market supports the field.

Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →